I want to replace an old computer with new and try to avoid the download sync on the new computer

[lvv]

I have Dropbox plus account.  Can I copy the local folders from the old computer to the new computer to avoid syncing the folders from the server down to the new computer? 

I sync two large folders.  I will be getting rid of the old computer and replacing with the new, but would like to avoid downloading the folders from the server to the new computer to avoid going over my internet service provider cap.

Is there a way to do this?

[Rich]

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@lvv wrote:

Can I copy the local folders from the old computer to the new computer to avoid syncing the folders from the server down to the new computer?

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Copy the Dropbox folder from the old computer to the new computer and rename it to Dropbox_OLD or something similar. Install Dropbox on the new computer and select the location that you want for the Dropbox folder. When the installation is finished, Dropbox will immediately start to sync. Pause syncing or exit Dropbox. Move the content of Dropbox_OLD into the newly created Dropbox folder. When the move is complete, and not before, resume syncing or re-launch Dropbox.

At this point Dropbox will begin indexing all of your files. This process will take a while, especially if you have a lot of data to go through. During this time it may say that files are uploading or downloading, but it's only transferring comparison data and any changes that it find. Be patient and LET IT WORK.

[lvv]

Thank you.  I found a similar post and will give it a try!

[lvv]

Hmmm.  I followed the instructions today.  After the copy I turned the sync back on and in the activity log it says it is uploading and downloading.  Been running 1.5 hrs now.  Is that what it should look like or should it only say indexing?  

This seems like it might be worse than if I had nothing on the machine...that would have just been a download.  Is it REALLY uploading all this?  That will be a disaster because then if it thinks these are different files it will sync them to my other computer and be way more traffic.

Is there a way for me to really check what is going on?

[Rich]

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@lvv wrote:

... it says it is uploading and downloading.  Been running 1.5 hrs now.  Is that what it should look like or should it only say indexing?

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It's transferring the comparison data to check your local files against those online, along with any files that it needs to sync (i.e. the differences it finds). This is the same process I use any time I want to move Dropbox to a new computer and it's never failed. Yes, it can still take a while, but not nearly as long as if it had to download your full account.

[lvv]

Well I must have done something wrong because it showed "conflicted copy" on all the files and it does appear that it uploaded them all and now my third computer that syncs some of the files is now downloading them all again even though they shouldn't have changed. 

I don't know if it is because I use with Boxcryptor.

But for me it would have been less to just allow the new computer to download.  Would have been less overall traffic.

So live and learn.  Hope this might help someone else in the future.